Solar fan hat with interchangeable ears

ABSTRACT

Hat with interchangeable ears with a head covering cap, a brim, a solar cell, an electric motor, a motor holding member, a pair of conducting wires, a fan blade, a pair of ear receiving members and a pair of decorative ears. The brim is attached in a standard way to the cap. The brim includes a centrally located aperture. The motor holding member is attached to the top surface of the brim so that the fan blade attached to the motor shaft resides half way through the aperture. The sides of the cap include opposing apertures that allow the ear receiving members to protrude through the apertures. The ear receiving members are fixedly attached to the cap sides. The ears include apertures that allow the ears to removably snap onto the ear receiving members. The solar cell is fixedly attached to the top most portion of the cap.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of shade producing hatsand more specifically to a hat with interchangeable ears.

Caps and hats of various types have been worn for thousands of years bypeople to help keeps their heads shaded from hot summer sun. Morerecently, Caps or hats that include fans powered by solar cells haveincreased the cooling capacity of the hat. The fans are either builtinto the hat or clip onto the hat.

Additionally, there have been decorative hats designed for specificpurposes. One such hat includes a pair of mouse ears so that the wearercan resemble the popular cartoon character Mickey Mouse.

No one to date has combined the features of a hat with decorative earsalong with a solar powered fan. Furthermore, no one to date has designeda hat that allows the user to remove and replace the ears for variouspurposes. For example, the user may be attending a baseball game anddecide to plug on baseball shaped ears, or the user may be attending aNASCAR race and which to plug in flag shaped ears that have the NASCARlogo on them.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a hat that helps coola person by the inclusion of a solar powered fan.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hat that provides a wayto incorporate interchangeable ears.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, anembodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there isdisclosed Hat with interchangeable ears comprising: a head covering cap,a brim, a solar cell, an electric motor, a motor holding member, a pairof conducting wires, a fan blade, a pair of ear receiving members, apair of decorative ears, said brim attached in a standard way to saidcap, said brim including a centrally located aperture, said motorholding member attached to the top surface of said brim so that said fanblade attached to said motor shaft resides half way through said brimaperture, the sides of said cap including opposing apertures that allowsaid ear receiving members to protrude through said apertures, said earreceiving members fixedly attached to said cap sides, said earsincluding apertures that allow said ears to removably snap onto said capsides, said solar cell fixedly attached to the top most portion of saidcap, and said conducting wires connecting said solar cell to said motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and includeexemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects ofthe invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate anunderstanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a front section view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ear retaining portion of theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention with baseball ears inplace.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention with football ears inplace.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the invention with NASCAR ears in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein.It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may beembodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for theclaims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the artto employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailedsystem, structure or manner.

Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the invention 100.A hat is comprised of a cap portion 4 and a brim portion 2. A solar cell20 is attached to the top of the cap 4 B by rivets 18, 22. a pair ofinsulated wire conductors 6 travels from solar cell 20 to a motor 24located in motor housing 10. The motor housing 10 is held onto brim 2 byrivets 12. The motor turns a fan blade 14. The blade is situated so thatit is half way through an aperture 8 in brim 2. In this way, the breezecreated by the fan can reach the wearer's face. The cap 4 also includesa pair of stylized ears 16 22 that are commonly seen on a Mickey Mousehat. Mickey Mouse is a popular Disney character. The ears are made ofrigid molded plastic, either injection molded or vacuum formed. The capand brim are made of standard materials found in standard baseball caps.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the invention 100. Ears 16, 22 areretained by ear retaining members 40, 42 and will be explained infurther detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. A sewn channel 48 helps direct wireconductors 6 to the DC motor 24. Fan blade 14 can be seen protrudingpartly down below the lower surface of brim 2.

FIG. 3 is a front section view as defined by section line 50 shown inFIG. 2. The brim 2 and motor 24 are not shown for clarity purposes. Thisview shows ear retaining members 40, 42 held to cap portion 4 by rivets62. The flexible tabs 44 on ear retaining members 40, 42 protrudethrough apertures 76 in a snap fit so that the barbs on tabs 44 engagethe top edge of aperture 76 and hold the ear 22, 16 in place until andunless the user decides to remove the ears 22, 16 by squeezing in on thetabs 44 thereby dislodging the ears 22, 16 from the ear retainingmembers 40, 42. In this way, the user, or a manufacturer has the abilityto place a variety of decorative ears on a cap as described above. Theear retaining member 42 also includes a U shaped wire guide 46 thathelps keep wire conductors 6 in place as they travel to the motor 24.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an ear retaining member 42. Flexibletabs 44 can be clearly seen as can wire guide 46. Rivets 62 are placedthrough apertures 48 and also through cap 4 to hold ear retaining member42 fixedly in place on cap 4.

Other standard means for removing and replacing interchanging ears 22,16 can be utilized such as standard snap fasteners, hook and loop typefasteners, magnets or quarter turn twist type fasteners.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a version of the invention 200 withbaseball type ears 202, 204 in place on cap 4.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a version of the invention 300 with agraphic display on the ears 302, 304 representing “Defense”, as used inFootball games.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a version of the invention 400 withflag type ears 402, 404 that may be appropriate for NASCAR fans.

Additional ear designs can be envisioned for other sporting events ortheme parks. Because the ears are removable, they can be packed withinthe hat for compact shipping and storage.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferredembodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention tothe particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended tocover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may beincluded within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

1. Hat with interchangeable ears comprising: a head covering cap; abrim; a solar cell; an electric motor; a motor holding member; a pair ofconducting wires; a fan blade; a pair of ear receiving members; a pairof decorative ears; said brim attached in a standard way to said cap;said brim including a centrally located aperture; said motor holdingmember attached to the top surface of said brim so that said fan bladeattached to said motor resides half way through said aperture; the sidesof said cap including opposing apertures that allow said ear receivingmembers to protrude through said apertures; said ear receiving membersfixedly attached to said cap sides; said ears including apertures thatallow said ears to removably snap onto said cap sides; said solar cellfixedly attached to the top most portion of said cap; and saidconducting wires connecting said solar cell to said motor.
 2. Hat withinterchangeable ears as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ears representmouse ears.
 3. Hat with interchangeable ears as claimed in claim 1wherein said ears represent flags.